Last week’s damning report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Ireland’s future cancer rates is all the proof we need that we are facing a health crisis of epic proportions.
Cancer as an illness is profound in this country and shows us all that ways of life and habits formed by many people have an extremely negative impact on overall health. The Irish drink problem is well documented, producing many addicts, in addition to tobacco consumption, which is also known to cause cancer.
The reality is that our bad habits, coupled with our much-increased pace of life, are killing thousands who are dying very prematurely. Our car and transport culture produces a nation who are taking little or no exercise, which is also linked to serious health problems.
Is it any surprise that health insurance costs are soaring to pay for those who have a disastrous lifestyle which barely gets them to mid-life, only to see themselves go downhill rapidly after that with cancer?
Maurice Fitzgerald Shanbally Co Cork
a d v e r t i s e m e n t
This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Tuesday, February 07, 2012
